Malheur County Court Records Search
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Malheur County, Oregon, sits in the state’s far southeastern corner and operates as part of the 9th Judicial District. The county’s court system includes a Circuit Court in the county seat of Vale, a County Court handling local governance matters, a Justice Court serving Ontario and Nyssa, and several municipal courts. Records produced by these courts — including case filings, dockets, orders, judgments, and supporting documents — flow through two main custodians depending on the type of proceeding: the Circuit Court clerk for criminal, civil, family, and certain probate matters, and the County Clerk for real estate recordings, marriage licenses, and certain probate filings.
Locating court case information in Oregon is straightforward once you know which agency holds the records you need. OregonCourts.us points users toward publicly available case details, online search systems, and clerk contact information across all Oregon judicial districts. The state’s main electronic case lookup tool — the Oregon eCourt Case Information system — covers circuit court cases statewide, while the County Clerk’s office handles property, marriage, and probate records separately.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Malheur County?
Most court case records in Malheur County are searchable through two official online platforms, with in-person and mail options available as backup.
Step 1 — Identify the correct court. Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes above small claims thresholds, family law, and probate. The Justice Court handles misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims for Ontario and Nyssa. Municipal courts handle city-level traffic and ordinance violations.
Step 2 — Use the online case search tools.
- The Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) system provides free access to case information — including the Register of Actions (case docket) — for all Oregon circuit courts, including Malheur County. Users can search by party name, case number, or attorney name.
- The Oregon eCourt Circuit Court Calendars portal displays upcoming hearing dates and court schedules for all circuit courts, which is useful for confirming whether a case is active.
- The Oregon Judicial Department’s Find a Case page consolidates both of the above tools and explains search options for the Tax Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court as well.
Step 3 — Contact or visit the Circuit Court clerk for documents.
If you need physical copies of filings rather than case summary data, contact or visit the Malheur County Circuit Court:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 251 B Street West, Suite 3, Vale, OR 97918 |
| Phone | (541) 473-5171 |
| Fax | (541) 473-2213 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–Noon and 1:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. (MST) |
The court uses Mountain Standard Time year-round, which is an important detail for anyone calling or visiting from outside the immediate region.
For real estate, marriage, or probate records held by the County Clerk, submit written requests to countyclerk@malheurco.org or use the downloadable Record Search Request Form available on the County’s website. Call the County Clerk at (541) 473-5151 before sending email attachments — the office will not open attachments without prior notice.
Are Court Records Public in Malheur County?
Oregon’s Public Records Law, ORS Chapter 192, establishes the default rule that government records — including court records — are open to the public unless a specific exemption applies. This means any person can request access to non-confidential, non-sealed court documents without having to state a reason for the request.
Records generally open to the public include:
- Criminal case files (felony and misdemeanor court records)
- Civil case filings, motions, and judgments
- Family law case records, including divorce decrees
- Probate inventories and estate orders (with limited exceptions)
- Property and deed records held by the County Clerk
- Court dockets and calendars
Records that are restricted or confidential under Oregon law:
- Juvenile court records — these are presumptively confidential and cannot be accessed by the general public; access is limited to the juvenile, parents or guardians, attorneys of record, and authorized government agencies
- Adoption records — sealed by statute
- Records sealed by judicial order — the court may seal portions of a case file or an entire proceeding upon a finding that privacy or safety interests outweigh the public’s right to access
- Mental health commitment records
- Certain law enforcement investigative records exempt under ORS 192.355
- Marriage and divorce records less than 50 years old — access is limited to the parties and their close relatives
- Birth records less than 100 years old — restricted to the individual named, parents listed on the certificate, legal guardians, and authorized representatives
- Death records less than 50 years old — similarly restricted
Sealed or restricted court records that are not available online may require a formal written request with valid photo identification. The court is required to provide you with a written explanation if access is denied.
Malheur County Criminal Court Records
Felony and serious misdemeanor cases are prosecuted in the Malheur County Circuit Court, Oregon’s 9th Judicial District, presided over by Presiding Judge Lung S. Hung and Circuit Court Judge Erin K. Landis. Lower-level criminal matters — including traffic infractions, Class C misdemeanors, and violations — are handled by the Justice Court and the municipal courts.
Searching Criminal Case Records Online
The Oregon eCourt Case Information (OECI) system is the primary tool for searching criminal case records at the circuit court level. Search results include the charge, case status, hearing dates, and the Register of Actions showing every filing and court event in the case. Note that the OECI system does not display juvenile criminal records, which remain confidential.
Obtaining Copies of Criminal Records
To request physical copies of criminal case documents from the Circuit Court:
- Identify the case number through the OECI online search.
- Submit a records request in person or by mail to the clerk’s office at 251 B Street West, Suite 3, Vale, OR 97918.
- Pay the applicable copy fees (see table below).
- If mailing, include a self-addressed stamped envelope; staff will calculate costs before processing the request.
Circuit Court Copy Fees
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copies (photocopies) | $0.25 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 flat fee + $0.25 per page |
| Exemplified copies (3-way certificate) | $10.00 + $0.25 per page |
| Audio recordings of proceedings | Calculated by court staff |
Note that exemplified copies (often required when submitting records to another state or country) take two to three additional business days to process.
Arrest and Jail Records
The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office handles law enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county. The Malheur County Jail, adjacent to the Sheriff’s Office, is located at 151 B Street West, Vale, OR 97918, and can be reached at (541) 473-5510. Jail information and inmate inquiries can also be directed to the Malheur County Jail page.
Malheur County Civil Court Records
Civil cases in Malheur County are filed in the Circuit Court for disputes that exceed the jurisdiction of small claims court, as well as appeals from lower courts. The Justice Court at 1178 SW 4th Street, Ontario, handles small claims matters and civil disputes within its jurisdictional limits.
Malheur County Justice Court
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Judge | Margie Mahony, Justice of the Peace / Municipal Judge |
| Address | 1178 SW 4th Street, Suite 1, Ontario, OR 97914 |
| Phone | (541) 889-5712 |
| Fax | (541) 889-7163 |
| JusticeCourt@malheurco.org | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. |
| Small Claims/Civil Hours | 7:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. (no civil on Wednesdays until 9:00 a.m.) |
| Traffic Court | Wednesdays starting at 7:00 a.m. |
The Justice Court also serves as the Municipal Court for Ontario and Nyssa. Debit and credit card payments are accepted with a 4% convenience fee for court fines; paying by phone through the payment center at (877) 495-2729 carries an additional $5.00 agent fee. Payments can also be made through the court’s online payment portal.
Property and Land Records
The Malheur County Clerk’s Office records and maintains deeds, mortgages, liens, mining claims, plats, and related real estate documents. The County Clerk is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Recording fees are set by Oregon statute (primarily ORS 205.320) and depend on document type:
- Deed recording: $92.00 base fee for a one-page, one-transaction document; additional $5.00 per page or transaction thereafter
- Mortgage recording: Same base fee structure as deeds
- Lien recording: $77.00 base fee for a one-page document; additional $5.00 per page
- Partition plats: $112.00 base fee
- Subdivision plats: $122.00 base fee
For public record name searches at the County Clerk’s office, search fees are charged by time: $3.75 for up to 15 minutes, $10.75 for 16–30 minutes, $17.75 for 31–45 minutes, and $25.00 for 46–60 minutes. Copies are $0.25 per page, certifications are $3.75 per document, and email or fax delivery of records costs $4.00 plus $0.25 per page. All name searches must be submitted in writing with the fee enclosed. Use the County Clerk Records Request page to download the request form or submit inquiries by email.
The Malheur County Records Inventory maintained by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Archives Division provides a broader index of county government record collections, which can assist in identifying where older records are stored.
Malheur County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Malheur County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, and adoption — are handled by the Malheur County Circuit Court. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains all family case files.
Divorce Records
Divorce (dissolution of marriage) records are civil court filings held by the Circuit Court clerk. While divorce records are generally public documents, Oregon restricts public access to divorce records that are less than 50 years old. Requesters seeking more recently filed dissolution records typically must provide proof of identity and relationship to the parties. Divorce case information can be located through the Oregon eCourt Case Information system, and physical copies can be ordered from the Circuit Court clerk at the standard copy fee of $0.25 per page and $5.00 for a certified copy. Note that all criminal and civil (divorce) records are handled through the Circuit Court, not the County Clerk — the County Clerk’s office will refer those inquiries to the Circuit Court at (541) 473-5171.
Marriage Records
Marriage licenses and marriage records are administered by the Malheur County Clerk. A marriage license costs $50.00 (cash, money order, or debit/credit card with a consumer fee). Marriage records that are less than 50 years old are restricted and accessible only to parties to the marriage or their immediate family members. Certified copies of marriage records from the County Clerk are available at $3.75 per document plus $0.25 per page. For a correction to a marriage record still on file with the County Clerk, the fee is $10.00; once the original has been sent to the state, corrections cost $25.00.
Vital Records for Family Matters
Birth records in Oregon are restricted for 100 years from the date of birth and are maintained centrally by the Oregon Health Authority’s Center for Health Statistics. Authorized persons can order certified birth certificates online through the Oregon Health Authority’s Order a Birth Certificate page. Death certificates less than 50 years old are similarly restricted; certified copies can be ordered through the Order a Death Certificate page. More recent death records (within the past six months of issuance) may be available from the Malheur County Health Department.
Domestic Violence Matters
Petitions for domestic violence restraining orders are filed in the Circuit Court. The court can issue a temporary ex parte restraining order and schedule a hearing within 21 days. Forms and procedural guidance are available at the courthouse or through the Oregon Judicial Department’s self-help resources.
Malheur County Probate Court Records
Probate proceedings in Malheur County — including estate administration, small estate affidavits, conservatorships, guardianships, and trust administration — are handled through the Malheur County Clerk’s Office, which serves as the local probate court under the County Court system.
Types of Probate Cases
- Estates: Full probate administration for decedents with assets that exceed the small estate threshold
- Small Estates: Simplified affidavit-based procedures for qualifying low-value estates
- Conservatorships: Court-supervised management of financial affairs for incapacitated individuals
- Guardianships: Court-appointed decision-making authority for personal care of incapacitated adults or minors
Probate Fees
Probate fees in Malheur County were updated effective October 1, 2019. The current Probate Fee Schedule is available on the County Clerk’s website and should be consulted before filing. If you wish to receive notice of filings in a specific probate file — for instance, as an interested creditor or heir — you must submit a Request for Notice form along with a $281.00 filing fee under ORS 21.135.
Requesting Copies and Searching Probate Records
Probate files are public records unless sealed, and copies may be requested in person or by mail at the County Clerk’s office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday). The Oregon eCourt Case Information system also indexes probate cases handled by the Circuit Court, allowing you to search by decedent name or case number. For estate-related real estate transfers and deed recordings, the County Clerk’s recording division handles those instruments under the same fee schedules that apply to general real estate documents.
Court Visitors
In guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, the court may appoint an independent Court Visitor to assess the condition and needs of a protected person. The current list of approved Court Visitors is posted on the County Clerk’s probate page and is updated annually.